Support Israel on its 60th Anniversary
It was sixty years ago today, May 14, 1948, that the modern state of Israel was formed. It was the fulfillment of a prophecy in Isaiah 66:8, "Can a nation be born in a day?" (Contemporary English Version).
I have been to Israel five times. I have long been a supporter of Israel. I believe that every Christian should visit Israel to walk where Jesus walked and to see the temple mount where Solomon built his temple, the city of Jerusalem, and where so many Bible stories took place.
I also believe that God blesses those who bless Israel (Genesis 12:3). This is one of the main reasons I have joined Pastor John Hagee in Christians United For Israel. If you haven't joined Christians United For Israel, I urge you to click here and also to plan to attend the Washington/Israel Summit on July 17-20 in Washington D.C.
Today we congratulate Israel on its 60-year anniversary. It's a miracle that the handful of poorly armed Jews were able to defend their newly formed nation when they were attacked by the armies of their Arab neighbors. Again and again they have been attacked and each time they have won. Today they have made peace with several of their Arab neighbors, but there's a new enemy in the form of terrorism that seeks to destroy Israel.
As Christians we must be strong to support Israel. Yet the more you get to know Israel, the more you find that the situation there is complicated. While we stand strong with Israel we need to put pressure on the Israeli's to treat humanely the Palestinians in their midst. On my last trip to Israel I was able to go into the Palestinian authority with a Christian Arab to the Bethlehem Bible College. Passing through the wall that's been erected around the Palestinian segment was like going into a penitentiary. The huge wall and the guard towers even looked like a penitentiary. It was easy to see why the Palestinians feel so oppressed.
At the same time the wall has almost ended the suicide bombings and you can't blame the Israelis for wanting to defend themselves against terrorist attacks.
Today I am writing not only to commemorate the 60th anniversary, but to keep in front of the Christian community another form of violence and discrimination that takes place in Israel that gets very little media coverage-- that is against believers in Yeshua (Jesus) who live in Israel who face discrimination and oppression of all types-- and unfortunately-- from time to time, also violence.
In the June issue of Charisma magazine (which went in the mail this week) I write an editorial about the bombing that took place in late March on Purim, when a bomb that looked like a Purim gift was left on the doorstep of a Messianic pastor named David Ortiz. His 15-year-old son, who was the only one home at the time, opened the package and was seriously injured.
No one has been brought to justice for this crime, but evidence seems to point to the fact that it was Orthodox Jews who do not went Messianics in their midst who perpetrated this terrible terrorist attack.
This was the subject of The Strang Report several weeks ago. You can read it by clicking here and also read how you can put pressure on the Israeli's to bring the perpetrators to justice. You can read my editorial in the June issue of Charisma by clicking here.
I have been impressed by the Messianic Jews who I have met in Israel. They seem to be good law abiding citizens who serve in the army, work hard day to day, and do charitable acts to show Christian love.
Their relationship with some Israelis, especially the government, seems to have improved in recent years as people seem to understand and appreciate the good deeds they do. But they also feel isolated from the Christian community (of which I believe they are a part) and their Jewish neighbors who don't understand, appreciate, or even oppose the fact that they try to maintain their Jewish identity while still believing in Yeshua (Jesus).
In the past we have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help the victims of terrorism from radical Muslims against innocent Jews in Israel. I've been encouraged by the outpouring of support from people like you. Now I would like for us to respond in like manner when one of our own is attacked in Israel. The Ortiz family and the entire Messianic community is under attack as never before.
You can give to Messianic believers through our non-profit partner Christian Life Missions. In the process you are helping fellow believers in Jesus and at the same time (in my opinion) blessing Israel.
On the 60th anniversary of Israel's founding will you respond by giving a generous donation? We will send 100% of the gift, taking nothing out for overhead, to Messianic organizations that are helping the Ortiz family and helping believers in various ways. Find instructions on how to donate by clicking here.
Remember, God blesses those who bless Israel. Join me in giving at least $60 in honor of their 60th anniversary.
I have been to Israel five times. I have long been a supporter of Israel. I believe that every Christian should visit Israel to walk where Jesus walked and to see the temple mount where Solomon built his temple, the city of Jerusalem, and where so many Bible stories took place.
I also believe that God blesses those who bless Israel (Genesis 12:3). This is one of the main reasons I have joined Pastor John Hagee in Christians United For Israel. If you haven't joined Christians United For Israel, I urge you to click here and also to plan to attend the Washington/Israel Summit on July 17-20 in Washington D.C.
Today we congratulate Israel on its 60-year anniversary. It's a miracle that the handful of poorly armed Jews were able to defend their newly formed nation when they were attacked by the armies of their Arab neighbors. Again and again they have been attacked and each time they have won. Today they have made peace with several of their Arab neighbors, but there's a new enemy in the form of terrorism that seeks to destroy Israel.
As Christians we must be strong to support Israel. Yet the more you get to know Israel, the more you find that the situation there is complicated. While we stand strong with Israel we need to put pressure on the Israeli's to treat humanely the Palestinians in their midst. On my last trip to Israel I was able to go into the Palestinian authority with a Christian Arab to the Bethlehem Bible College. Passing through the wall that's been erected around the Palestinian segment was like going into a penitentiary. The huge wall and the guard towers even looked like a penitentiary. It was easy to see why the Palestinians feel so oppressed.
At the same time the wall has almost ended the suicide bombings and you can't blame the Israelis for wanting to defend themselves against terrorist attacks.
Today I am writing not only to commemorate the 60th anniversary, but to keep in front of the Christian community another form of violence and discrimination that takes place in Israel that gets very little media coverage-- that is against believers in Yeshua (Jesus) who live in Israel who face discrimination and oppression of all types-- and unfortunately-- from time to time, also violence.
In the June issue of Charisma magazine (which went in the mail this week) I write an editorial about the bombing that took place in late March on Purim, when a bomb that looked like a Purim gift was left on the doorstep of a Messianic pastor named David Ortiz. His 15-year-old son, who was the only one home at the time, opened the package and was seriously injured.
No one has been brought to justice for this crime, but evidence seems to point to the fact that it was Orthodox Jews who do not went Messianics in their midst who perpetrated this terrible terrorist attack.
This was the subject of The Strang Report several weeks ago. You can read it by clicking here and also read how you can put pressure on the Israeli's to bring the perpetrators to justice. You can read my editorial in the June issue of Charisma by clicking here.
I have been impressed by the Messianic Jews who I have met in Israel. They seem to be good law abiding citizens who serve in the army, work hard day to day, and do charitable acts to show Christian love.
Their relationship with some Israelis, especially the government, seems to have improved in recent years as people seem to understand and appreciate the good deeds they do. But they also feel isolated from the Christian community (of which I believe they are a part) and their Jewish neighbors who don't understand, appreciate, or even oppose the fact that they try to maintain their Jewish identity while still believing in Yeshua (Jesus).
In the past we have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help the victims of terrorism from radical Muslims against innocent Jews in Israel. I've been encouraged by the outpouring of support from people like you. Now I would like for us to respond in like manner when one of our own is attacked in Israel. The Ortiz family and the entire Messianic community is under attack as never before.
You can give to Messianic believers through our non-profit partner Christian Life Missions. In the process you are helping fellow believers in Jesus and at the same time (in my opinion) blessing Israel.
On the 60th anniversary of Israel's founding will you respond by giving a generous donation? We will send 100% of the gift, taking nothing out for overhead, to Messianic organizations that are helping the Ortiz family and helping believers in various ways. Find instructions on how to donate by clicking here.
Remember, God blesses those who bless Israel. Join me in giving at least $60 in honor of their 60th anniversary.
posted by Steve Strang @ 10:46 AM
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